displacement activities
I am excellent at finding displacement activities at this time of year.
Instead of making, writing and sending Christmas cards, I have been mounting embroideries ready to be framed (some have been waiting for three years - so why now?).
Instead of wrapping up her presents, I've been mounting Phoebe's work, too. This she did in a tapestry club at school.
And she made this wonderful stitch sampler at home.
Instead of diligently feeding the Christmas cake (made only on Friday to the recipe in Nigel Slater's Kitchen Diaries) with quince brandy until nearer the 25th, we sloshed alcohol over it twice and then started eating it. I soaked the dried fruit for 24 hours in the quince brandy and it was a masterstroke, though I say so myself.
Instead of knitting more pudding hats, I've been finishing Simon's knee warmers, gamely modelled by Thomas and his inimitable knee-caps.
Instead of mending the Christmas stockings, I have been cutting out the fabrics for my next quilt.
I could go on forever, but I have to go and tape Meet Me in St Louis so that I can spend an evening avoiding the things I ought to be doing...
Excellent post. I may add some of these suggestions to the list of displacement activities I have been employing the last few days!
Posted by: Jan | December 19, 2005 at 12:10 PM
You're a rebel. That's what you are.
Posted by: lyn | December 19, 2005 at 12:16 PM
Oh, the art of procrastination... I'm an expert.
When the holidays are over, could you share your embroidery mounting techniques? I have some old ones to mount and frame and I don't know where to begin.
Happy Holidays!
Posted by: Meredith | December 19, 2005 at 12:34 PM
i am a procrastination pro myself...who needs christmas cards when i can organize my closet??
i love how you've mounted your daughters art work...really lovely!
Posted by: brandie | December 19, 2005 at 01:32 PM
Oh wow, somebody has a *whole bunch* of Kaffe Fassett fabric!
Posted by: Kat | December 19, 2005 at 02:38 PM
Hmmmm, sounds familiar!! Your work (and that of your super creative family) is looking superb in all respects... I really must get to baking so that I can have something to show as well!
Posted by: kelly | December 19, 2005 at 02:39 PM
I'm in denial about the holidays too. When it comes right down to it, will anyone notice if I don't get the baking done? Don't answer that.
Posted by: Jennifer | December 19, 2005 at 03:14 PM
Ha ha! You just convinced me. I am deliberately planning to avoid Christmas all day today! Except for the spiked eggnog, no denying that!
Posted by: Blair | December 19, 2005 at 04:18 PM
Are you doing those embroidery rectangles on a machine, or by hand? They are lovely. I can only imagine how nice they'll look framed.
Posted by: Kelli | December 19, 2005 at 04:36 PM
I seem to remember a while back you saying that you were going to try to avoid the season as much as possible, so you are actually on task! Good for you!
Posted by: Rose | December 19, 2005 at 05:51 PM
I am also a pro pro... no wonder I haven't sent cards, completed the knitting, bought my partner any presents... however, I am up-to-date on my blog reading.
Posted by: jess | December 19, 2005 at 06:50 PM
Beautiful colours for the new quilt and the post makes me less guilty about my own (displacement) Spring cleaning.
Posted by: Linda | December 19, 2005 at 08:22 PM
oooh...glad to know I'm not the only one. I've been repainting my dining room table and making chair cushions. So "displacing". ;)
Posted by: amanda | December 19, 2005 at 09:54 PM
what lovely fabrics, i can't wait to see your next quilt, you quite simply must forget everything else and start it straight away...
Posted by: sarah | December 19, 2005 at 11:07 PM
Products of displacement or not, it all looks beautiful (those embroideries!). I only just started soaking the fruit for our christmas cake last night - plenty of displacement activities here too!
Posted by: Fiona | December 19, 2005 at 11:22 PM
I love the house embroidery, and Phoebe's work, and all the fabrics you've chosen for your next quilt. There's nothing like pressure on one front to make working on others so appealing. I'm starting to feel as if my creativity has been co-opted by Christmas myself...time to get started on a new quilt!
Posted by: Anamaria | December 20, 2005 at 12:52 AM
Clang, Clang, Clang went the trolley.... Judy was never lovelier, even with that *OH*-so RED hair. Happy Christmas, Jane!
Posted by: KT | December 20, 2005 at 06:21 AM
What a delightful post! You know I absolutely adore your embroideries, and they look even more superb mounted. Phoebe has clearly inherited quite a talent for beautiful needlework from you! And those knee-warmers, the quilting fabrics, and most especially your 'variation' on the Christmas cake recipe -- I love it all, Jane! How very inspiring. I think I'll go and procrastinate some more myself... :) Happy Christmas to you!
Posted by: Axelle | December 20, 2005 at 10:40 AM
hahahaha! Kind of sounds like my week before Christmas! Must do the Christmas Cards today ;-)
Posted by: Kim | December 20, 2005 at 01:07 PM
I am enjoying how the knee warmers don't match. A nice touch.
Posted by: Suse | December 21, 2005 at 01:47 AM
great post- I'm going to start mentioning "displacement activities" in conversations now!
I think it's something we all do :)
Posted by: di | December 21, 2005 at 10:21 AM
Your are speaking my language...I am the Queen of Holiday Procrastination. It's a sickness.
Posted by: LadyLinoleum aka Regina | December 21, 2005 at 06:43 PM
What an inspiring blog! Do you know of a place online where I could buy that fabric with the little pansies on it? I would love to make a dress out of it. Fabulous work.
Posted by: Gina | December 31, 2005 at 07:15 PM